i£x  iCtbrtfi 


SEYMOUR  DURST 


To  the  President  and  Directors  of  the  Long  Island  Water 
Works  Company : 

Gentlemen — 

In  making  a  preliminary  report  to  you  in  the  month  of  September 
last,  with  reference  to  the  construction  of  Water  Works  for  Williams- 
burgh;  I  was  confined,  by  your  directions,  to  the  sources  in  the  imme- 
diate vicinity  of  that  city— to  a  supply  necessary  for  a  population  of 
one  hundred  thousand  souls — and  to  the  laying  of  only  ten  miles  of  the 
forty  miles  of  pipe  necessary  for  the  distribution  of  that  quantity. 

In  that  report,  I  stated,  that  I  had  "  not  described  the  second  line  of 
survey  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Atlantic  coast,  because  the  late  rains  have 
prevented  us  from  completing  the  survey,  and  obtaining  satisfactory 
guagings  of  the  discharge  of  all  the  streams."  "  Upon  the  completion  of 
the  examinations  for  future  purposes,  on  the  South  side  of  the  Island,  I 
shall  have  the  honor  to  present  you  with  another  communication,  in  regard 
to  a  supply  of  water,  for  Williamsburgh  and  its  vicinity." 

Realizing  the  objections  that  might  be  urged  against  the  use  of  vertical 


pipes,  to  obtain  the  hydrostatic  pressure  required,  where  a  site  sufficiently 
elevated  for  distributing  reservoirs  could  be  obtained,  (and  such  a  site 
could  not  be  found  upon  the  line  of  water  sources  on  the  North  side  of  the 
Island,  except  at  an  inconvenient  distance,)  I  determined  to  ascertain  if 
this  objection  could  not  be  removed,  by  using  the  ridge  near  Cypress  Hill, 
in  connection  with  the  copious  streams  of  the  South  side  of  the 
Island.  Our  examinations  were  entirely  successful,  and  the  surveys  on  the 
South  side  of  the  Island  have  been  completed,  by  the  location  of  a  line 
from  the  distributing  reservoir  near  Cypress  Hill  to  Simonsdh's  pond, 
on  the  west  branch  of  the  Hook  creek,  for  the  supply  of  0,000,000 
gallons:  and  thence  to  Willis'  pond,  on  the  East  Meadow  brook,  about 


fcweafcy-tliree  wiles  from  the  City  Hall  Brooklyn,,  for  30,000,000  of 
gallons. 

An  experimental  line  was  also  continued  about  eight  miles  to  Jones* 
and  Massapequa  ponds,  whence  an  additional  supply  of  1,000,000  gallons 
may  be  obtained,  if  it  should  be  required,  by  connecting  Massapequa  with 
Jones'  pond,  and  raising  their  waters  a  few  feet ;  to  obtain  the  height  ne- 
cessary to  discharge  that  supply  into  Willis'  dam. 

There  is  a  large  territory  in  your  vicinity,  embracing  the  flourishing 
villages  of  Grreenpoint,  Ravens  wood  and  Astoria,  with  a  rapidly  increasing 
population ;  which  will,  in  a  few  years,  require  a  large  supply  of  water  for 
domestic  use,  for  the  extinguishment  of  fires,  and  for  other  purposes.  And 
as  the  City  of  Brooklyn  itself  may  be  induced  to  receive  water  from  your 
Company  at  reasonable  rates,  from  the  fact  that  one  line  of  Water  Works 
for  the  supply  of  all  would  cost  less  than  two,  I  have  estimated  for  the 
construction  of  a  work,  which  I  deem  necessary  to  enable  you  to  supply 
30,000,000  of  gallons  of  water  daily;  only  recommending  your  Company  to 
construct  it  for  the  present  as  far  as  Simonson's  pond,  for  the  daily  supply 
of  9,000,000  of  gallons. 

The  large  population  which  has  for  a  few  years  past  rapidly  accumula- 
ted in  the  Cities  of  Brooklyn  and  Williamsburgh,  and  in  their  vicinity,  has 
had  no  other  supply  of  water  for  either  domestic  or  general  use,  than 
such  as  could  be  furnished  from  the  cisterns  and  wells  constructed  by  indi- 
vidual effort,  or  corporate  authority ;  the  supply  thus  obtained  being  en- 
tirely inadequate  to  the  present,  and  much  less  to  the  prospective  wants  of 
these  cities  and  their  adjacent  towns. 

The  importance  of  furnishing  every  large  community  with  an  abundance 
of  pure  and  wholesome  water;  as  well  for  its  beneficial  effects,  on  the  health 
and  comfort  of  the  residents,  as  for  its  safeguard  to  property;  scarcely  needs 
argument.  In  the  case  of  the  cities  above-named,  the  absence  of  such  a 
supply  has  made  practical  demonstration  of  the  consequent  evils,  not  only 
in  the  insecurity  of  property  from  fire  and  the  high  rates  of  insurance ;  but 
in  the  unwholesome  character  of  the  water  generally  used,  and  its  effects 
on  the  health  and  comfort  of  the  citizens. 

The  interest  which  the  subject  of  water  supplies  has  acquired  throughout 
the  country,  as  well  as  in  those  districts  most  in  need  of  this  relief,  has 
made  it  an  object  of  general  attention;  and  to  the  engineer  it  presents  a 
wide  range  of  experimental  research,  involving  some  of  the  most  interesting 
laws  of  nature. 


5 


The  purposes  to  which  a  proper  supply  of  water  is  available  in  a  dtf, 
are,  for 

Domestic  use, 
Manufactures, 
Extinction  of  Fires, 
Public  Baths, 
Public  Fountains, 
Street  Cleansing,  and 
Sewerage. 

These  are  all  important  to  the  sanitary  regulations  of  every  community, 
though  not  all  absolutely  neeessary.  Individual  efforts  may  provide  to  a 
limited  extent  for  some  of  these  uses;  but  the  supply  can  never  be  other- 
wise than  limited,  and  will  but  partially  meet  the  requirements  of  a  large 
population. 

The  various  sources  of  supply,  available  in  a  general  or  limited  form,  for 
a  city,  may  be  derived  from 

Rain  Water,  or  Surface  Drainage, 
Wells, 

PiVers  and  Lakes, 
Springs  and  Brooks. 

In  point  of  purity,  so  far  as  chemical  tests  are  used,  the  rain  water  has 
the  preference ;  although  besides  atmospheric  air ;  carbonic  acid,  and  small 
portions  of  ammoniacal  salts,  are  found  in  the  purest  varieties;  perfectly 
pure  water  being  only  obtained  by  distillation. 

In  many  cities  of  the  Union,  before  the  introduction  of  an  adequate  sup- 
ply, under  the  controlling  action  of  a  fixed  head;  large  cisterns  were  pro- 
vided  to  collect  the  surface  drainage  of  the  streets,  for  use  in  case  of  fire, 
arranged  with  overflow  pipes,  by  which  the  surplus  received  into  the  upper 
cistern  was  discharged  into  those  below  it.  Cisterns  also  were  provided  to 
each  house,  the  water  in  many  cases  being  filtered  for  drinking  and  cook- 
ing purposes  by  permanent  filters,  through  which  the  water  thus  needed 
was  pumped. 

It  is  found,  however,  in  practice,  that  the  impurities  with  which  rains 
water  becomes  impregnated  in  its  descent  through  the  atmosphere  of  a  city, 
(especially  in  the  vicinity  of  factories,)  and  those  which  are  carried  from 
the  roofs  of  the  buildings  into  the  cisterns,  rapidly  accumulate,  and  render 
the  filter  inoperative;  and  that  frequent  cleansing  of  the  whole  cistern  is  ne- 
cessary,  on  this  account. 


G 

It  is  evident  that  the  filters  generally  used  for  these  cisterns  are  only 
of  service  in  arresting  the  mechanical  impurities  of  the  water,  and  must 
soon  be  charged  with  a  deposite  which  chokes  up  the  porous  openings, 
while  any  chemical  arrangeni3nt  would  as  evidently  need  constant  renewal. 
It  is  also  evident  that  the  quantity  of  the  supply  must  depend  on  the 
storing  capacity  of  the  cistern,  and  the  abundance  or  scarcity  of  rain;  the 
quiescent  state  of  the  water  depriving  it  to  some  extent  of  its  proper  sup- 
ply of  oxygen,  and  in  other  respects  affecting  its  use. 

While  therefore,  a  limited  supply  may  be  realized  from  rain-water  thus 
collected,  the  system  is  liable  to  many  objections,  and  inadequate  to 
other  uses  than  those  above  named. 

A  second  source  of  supply  is  found,  generally  by  individual  effort,  in 
wells  sunk  to  the  flow  line  of  various  strata  saturated  with  water;  which 
fill  them  to  a  height,  proportional  to  the  heads,  from  which  the  subterrane- 
an sources  are  supplied. 

In  villages  and  districts  sparsely  settled,  this  is  the  most  common  me- 
thod of  supply;  but  where  a  compact  population  is  found,  and  the  wells 
derive  their  supply  from  the  water  percolating  through  the  upper  strata, 
they  are  impure  and  unwholesome;  containing  in  some  cities  from  60  to 
125  grains  of  impurities  per  gallon.  This  objection  exists  to  some  extent 
against  many  of  the  wells  used  in  Brooklyn  and  Williamsburgh,  and  in 
some  cases,  where  they  are  sunk  so  as  to  receive  their  supply  from  "  the 
Main  Spring"  of  the  Island,  the  water  from  which  beyond  the  limits  of 
these  cities  is  remarkably  pure  in  quality  and  abundant  in  quantity.  The 
(Character  of  this  main  source  of  supply  which  pervades  the  whole  bed  of 
the  Island  is  thus  briefly  sketched  in  my  Report  of  September  last,  upon 
the  surveys  made  of  the  sources  of  water  on  the  north  side  of  Long  Is- 
land : 

"I  can  safely  say  that  I  have  never  known  springs  to  maintain  such  a 
constant  supply  of  water  as  those  of  Long  Island,  near  its  shores. 

They  are  very  numerous  and  discharge  themselves  copiously  at  the  heads 
of  the  bays  and  indentations  of  the  coast,  at  a  little  above  the  level  of  tide- 
water at  each  end  of  the  Island;  and  from  that  level  to  twenty  feet  above 
high  tide  at  the  central  part  of  the  Island,  near  Hempstead  Plains,  and 
other  sandy  wastes  of  less  extent. 

I  have  made  diligent  enquiry  of  those  who  are  experienced  in  well  dig- 
ging, in  different  parts  of  the  Island,  and  the  information  obtained  has 
confirmed  me  in  the  belief  that  the  highest  level  of  the  hidden  sources  of  water 
on  Long  Island,  generally  known  by  its  citizens,  as  "  the  Main  Spring,"  is 
under  these  extensive  plains  of  sand. 


I  have  also  observed  that  but  little  of\the  rain  which  falls  upon  these 
plains,  flows  from  them  in  brooks  or  streams,  while  but  little  remains  upon 
the  surface  to  be  carried  away  by  evaporation.  Nearly  all  that  falls  sinks 
gradually  to  the  depths  below,  percolating  through  strata  of  sand  and 
gravel,  occasionally  interrupted  by  beds  of  clay  and  hard  pan,  (which  the 
sections  of  wells  in  that  vicinity  show  are  not  continuous)  and  running 
again  on  their  surface  in  currents  more  or  less  retarded,  to  openings  in 
those  strata,  where  the  streams  discharge  themselves  again  into  the  sand 
and  gravel  beneath;  until  "  the  Main  Spring,"  which  is  always  found  in  a 
stratum  of  sand,  thus  receives  nearly  all  the  water  that  falls  upon  the  plains, 
about  10(fcfeet  above  its  level. 

The  annual  average  depth  of  rain,  snow  (melted)  and  dew,  which  falls 
in  England  and  Wales,  has  been  determined  to  be  about  thirty-six  inches. 

It  is  computed  by  Dr.  Dalton  and  others,  who  have  given  much  atten- 
tion to  the  subject,  that  about  two-thirds  of  this  amount  escapes  in  rivers, 
streams,  surface  springs,  and  by  evaporation,  leaving  about  one-third  to 
find  its  way  to  the  great  source  of  fresh  water,  known  to  exist  under  that 
Island. 

The  average  depth  of  water  which  has  been  known  to  fall  on  Long 
Island  is  about  thirty-six  inches,  and  the  extent  of  its  surface  is  about 
1,800  square  miles  ;  one  half  of  which  may  be  said  to  consist  of  a  very 
porous  sandy  soil,  which  absorbs  about  two-thirds  of  the  water  that  falls, 
upon  it.  The  remainder  of  the  surface  of  Long  Island  has  its  brooks  and 
streams  ;  but  it  may  be  said  with  safety,  that  only  a  small  portion  of  the 
Island  is  of  such  formation,  as  to  retain  the  rain  and  melted  snow  upon  its. 
surface,  in  ponds,  lakes,  or  running  brooks ;  to  lose  itself  directly  in  the  air 
or  the  ocean. 

It  is  reasonable  to  assert  that  at  least  one  half  of  the  wTater  which  falls 
upon  the  wmole  Island,  is  absorbed  by  the  soil. 

Thus  we  have  5,280  by  5,280  feet  by  1800  square  miles  =  50,181,120,- 
000  square  feet  of  surface,  into  Hfeet,  or  66,998,160,000  cubic  feet  of  wa- 
ter, which  filters  through  strata  of  sand  and  gravel,  slowly  but  surely,  to- 
wards "  the  Miin  Spring,"  undiminished  by  drainage  or  evaporation,  until 
it  reaches  the  numerous  springs  and  indentations  near  the  coast,  which 
mark  and  distinguish  the  topography  of  Long  Island. 

The  vast  supply  of  pure  water  furnished  by  clusters  of  springs  to  the 
ponds  of  Long  Island,  which  very  frequently  have  no  other  source ;  and  the 
fact  that  these  ponds  sometimes  derive  their  water  from  one  spring  alone, 
were  the  interesting  phenomena,  that  induced  me  to  make  these  few  re- 
marks, explanatoiy  of  the  causes  which  should  give  us  confidence  in  the 
great  source  of  water,  or  "  the  Main  Spring"  of  Long  Island." 

It  has  been  proposed  to  construct  Artesian  Wells,  but  they  would  not, 
in  my  opinion,  be  successful  ;  for  the  reason  that  the  channels  of  communi- 
cation from  the  high  grounds  on  the  main  shore  are  cut  off  by  the  deep  re- 
cesses of  the  surrounding  bays;  and  also,  that  if  this  were  not  the  case,  the 


8 

dip  of  the  strata  so  far  as  I  have  observed  it,  is  not  favorable  to  such  a 
project. 

While  careful  examinations  have  satisfied  me  that  for  domestic  nse  and 
manufactures,  and  in  some  cases  for  the  extinction  of  fires,  a  supply  from 
wells  might  meet  the  wants  of  a  small  community,  the  system  cannot  be 
complete  in  its  operation,  and  involves  the  loss  of  other  benefits,  of  great 
.consequence  to  a  city. 

The  third  source  of  supply  which  has  been  used  for  cities,  and  furnishes 
water  in  sufficient  quantities  for  all  purposes,  is  found  in  thejGElivers  or 
Lakes  on  or  near  which  they  may  be  located. 

In  this  country,  as  well  as  those  of  Europe,  this  has  been  a  favorite  re- 
sort. Philadelphia,  Pittsburgh,  Cincinnati,  Chicago,  New  Orleans,  and 
many  other  cities  of  the  United  States,  are  using  the  rivers  or  lakes  on 
which  they  are  situated,  under  circumstances  peculiarly  advantageous  as  to 
economy,  and  purity  of  supply. 

Rivers  are  great  physical  arteries  provided  by  nature  for  the  benefit  of 
the  land  and  the  air,  and  of  those  who  live  on  the  one  and  breathe  the 
other.  The  effects  of  the  gentle  and  unceasing  process  of  evaporation 
from  large  streams  and  lakes  upon  the  surrounding  atmosphere,  the  conse- 
quent formations  of  dew,  rain  and  snow,  and  their  prominent  uses  to  the 
vegetable  and  animal  kingdoms,  are  all  daily  yielding  to  man  their  price- 
less benefits,  while  he  finds  .abundant  occupation  in  the  pursuits  of  naviga- 
tion and  commerce.  As  sources  of  supply,  rivers  are  of  great  value.  One 
of  the  most  effective  methods  of  cleansing  water  from  the  mechanical  im- 
purities it  may  contain,  is  that  of  subsidence,  or  deposit,  and  in  this  respect 
every  large  stream  is  a  natural  self-depurating  reservoir.  Gently  flowing 
along  its  appointed  course,  and  depositing  by  slow  and  sure  process  the 
matter  over  which  gravity  exercises  control,  its  continued  motion  presents 
it  to.  the  action  of  the  atmosphere,  while  it  is  carried  to  the  foot  of  every 
city  along  its  banks,  with  a  never-failing  offering  of  one  of  the  most  neces- 
sary elements  of  life. 

It  rarely  happens  that  the  character  of  the  bed  over  which  it  flows  af- 
fects the  water  to  an  injurious  extent,  as  in  limestone  countries ;  the  action 
of  the  atmosphere  doing  much  to  counteract  the  "hardness"  produced  by 
the  lime,  with  which  the  stream  may  be  more  or  less  impregnated. 

In  the  case  of  Brooklyn  and  adjacent  cities,  however,  the  supply  from 
such  a  source  is  out  of  the  question,  on  account  of  the  saltness  of  the  East 
and  North  rivers,  under  the  ebb  and  flow  of  the  tides. 


9 


Having  been  satisfied  that  the  population  of  the  western  side  of  Long- 
Island  must  be  supplied  from  other  sources  than  these  enumerated,  the 
next  system,  or  that  of  springs  and  brooks  invites  attention,  and  furnishes 
a  satisfactory  result.  Nature  has  made  provision  for  the  necessities  of  this 
case,  in  the  arrangement  of  the  Island,  by  which  large  springs  supplying 
ponds  for  milling  and  manufacturing  purposes,  are  formed  along  the  north- 
ern and  southern  shores,  which  derive  their  supply  from  "  the  Main  Zp-ing" 
heretofore  mentioned,  and  are  remarkably  constant  in  their  flow  through- 
out the  year  ;  whilst  the  purity  and  quality  of  the  water,  filtered  through 
strata  of  sand  and  gravel,  and  delivered  to  us  from  that  great  subterra- 
nean reservoir,  is  seldom,  if  ever,  surpassed. 

Between  Brooklyn  and  Hempstead  harbor,  on  the  Xorth  side  of  the 
Island,  there  are  thirteen  of  these  ponds  ;  and  within  a  similar  distance  on 
the  Southern  shore  there  are  eighteen  ponds,  deriving  their  principal 
sources  by  subterranean  communication. 

In  consequence,  however,  of  the  location  of  the  Xorthern  line  of  ponds, 
communication  between  them,  by  any  connected  line,  to  Brooklyn  and  ad- 
jacent cities  cannot  be  readily  made,  for  the  reason  that  they  are  separa- 
ted by  bold  spurs  of  the  main  ridge,  which  involves  the  construction  of  a 
line  of  conduit  either  very  circuitous,  or  very  expensive. 

"While  the  northern  slope  thus  projects  abruptly,  in  prormnent  points,  on 
the  shore  line,  on  the  southern  side  the  fall  is  generally  a  gentle  slope  to 
the  coast,  and  the  ponds  are  much  better  adapted  as  to  location  and  rela- 
tive height  for  the  purpose  in  view.  Besides,  their  aggregate  supply  as 
far  East  as  the  Massapequa  pond  only,  in  the  driest  season,  is  not  much 
less  than  forty  millions  of  gallons  per  day,  as  may  be  seen  by  the  following 
statements  of  the  guagings  made  of  the  quantities  discharged  in  the  latter 
part  of  September  and  the  month  of  October,  1852,  and  which  may  be  re- 
lied upon,  as  not  for  from  the  minimum,  discharge  of  the  several  ponds 
named: — 

Daily  Discharge. 

Baiseley's  pond,  Jamaica  creek      .       .       .       5.400.000  galls. 

Xostrand's  pond   1.500.000  " 

Siinonson's  pond,  West  Branch  Hook  creek  .  3.600.000  " 
P.  Cornwell's  pond,  East  do    .       .    .       3.000.000  " 

L.  Cornwell's  pond,  Parsonage  creek     .       .       9.300.000  " 

Pine's  pond,  Pine  creek   2.200.000  " 

Willis'  pond,  East  Meadow  creek  .       .       .       ^.000.000  " 

Jones'  pond    3.000.000  " 

Massapequa  Pond   5.000.000    "  . 

40.000.000  galls. 


10 


The  plan  and  estimates  herewith  submitted,  are  based  upon  a  supply  of 
nine  millions  of  gallons  for  present  use,  providing  for  an  extension  to  a 
daily  supply  of  thirty  millions,  when  that  amount  shall  be  required,  at 
some  future  period. 

Thus,  if  the  very  liberal  allowance  of  50  gallons  per  day  be  made  for 
the  population  of  your  cities,  you  have,  beyond  all  question,  under  your 
charter,  a  supply  for  GOO, 000  souls,  without  going  farther  than  Willis' pond. 

The  following  analysis,  stated  in  decimals,  has  been  made  of  the  waters 
of  some  of  your  principal  ponds,  by  our  distinguished  chemist,  Dr.  James 
II.  Chilton,  shewing  the  amount  of  impurities  contained,  viz.: — 

Grains  of  Impurities 
per  gallon. 


Baiseley's  pond,  Jamaica  creek            .       .       .       .  2.120 

Simonson's  pond,  West  Branch  of  Hook  creek         .    .  2.000 

L.  Cornwall's  Pond,  Parsonage  creek           .       .       .  2.800 

Willis'  pond,  East  Meadow  creek            .       .       .    .  2.000 

Massapequa  pond   2.880 


The  following  analysis  of  some  of  the  waters  of  the  city  #f  Brooklyn, 
from  the  several  wells  named,  also  made  by  Dr.  James  R.  Chilton,  is  here 
inserted,  to  show  the  great  difference  in  the  purity  of  the  waters  of  the 
Long  Island  Water  Works  Company  and  the  well  waters  now  used  in  that 
City  :- 

Grains  of  Impurities 
per  gallon. 

Water  from  well,  corner  of  Gold  and  Nassau  sts.,    5th  ward  38.400 
"      High  and  Jay  2d     "  58.640 

"  "  "      Fulton  and  Washington,  4th   "  46.440 

"  "    opposite  Mansion  House  in  Hicks,  3d     "  43.200 

"  "    Union  street  near  Columbia,        6th    "  11.160 

"    corner  of  Douglas  and  Smith      10th    "  16.960 

GENERAL  PLAN. 

From  the  Engine  House,  which  will  be  situated  near  the  line  of  the 
Long  Island  Rail  Road  and  of  the  Jamaica  Plank  Road,  below  the  pro- 
posed Reservoir  on  Cypress  Hill,  the  line  of  conduit  will  take  the  most  fa- 
vorable route  eastward  to  Baiseley's  pond,  and  thence  to  Hook  Creek 
West  Branch,  where  it  receives  the  supply  of  Simonson's  pond,  the  joint 
discharge  of  both  ponds  amounting  to  9,000,000  gallons  per  day;  which 
amount  may  be  at  any  time  increased  1,500,000  gallons,  by  connecting 
Nostrand's  pond,  situated  between  the  two,  with  the  main  Conduit,  by  a 
branch  line. 


1 1 


When  an  additional  supply  may  be  required  for  the  increasing  wants  of 
the  population,  a  closed  conduit  or  open  canal,  commencing  near  Simoh- 
son's  pond,  will  be  constructed  to  the  vicinity  of  P.  Cornwell's  pond;  thence 
to  the  vicinity  of  L.  Cornwell's  and  Pine's  ponds;  thence  to  Willis' pond, 
which  will  afford  an  aggregate  supply  of  more  than  30,000,000  gallons; 
and  thence  to  Jones'  pond,  Massapequa  pond,  and  others  that  could  be 
connected  therewith  and  added  to  the  supply  of  30,000,000  gallons,  fur- 
nished by  the  present  plan,  at  some  distant  day. 

The  comparatively  slight  grade  which  the  open  canal  will  require,  taken 
in  connection  with  its  economy,  and  the  cost  otherwise  involved  by  raising 
the  several  ponds  at  the  eastern  end  of  the  line,  and  the  sparseness  of  the 
population  along  that  line,  are  some  of  the  reasons  recommending  it  to 
your  favorable  consideration. 

From  the  Engine  House  the  water  will  be  forced  by  Pumping  Engines, 
into  the  Distributing  Reservoir  on  Cypress  Hill;  the  system  of  distribution 
commencing  from  this  reservoir  to  Brooklyn,  Williamsburgh,  Bushwick, 
Green  Point,  Ravenswood,  Astoria,  &c,  as  they  may  eventually  desire  a 
supply. 

DISTRIBUTING  RESERVOIRS. 

These  will  be  located  as  above  stated,  the  formation  in  the  vicinity  of 
Cypress  Hill,  being  admirably  adapted  to  the  economical  construction  of  as 
many  Reservoirs,  as  may  be  required  through  all  time. 

The  Reservoir  to  be  built  in  connection  with  the  plan  for  the  daily  sup- 
ply of  9,000,000  of  gallons,  will  require  but  a  small  amount  of  excavation, 
and  to  be  puddled  and  lined  with  concrete.  This  Reservoir  will  have  a 
surface  of  IT  acres,  a  depth  of  25  fe^et,  and  a  height  at  the  surface  of  wa- 
ter of  112  feet  above  high  tide. 

As  your  Company  have  purchased  4T  acres  altogether,  for  the  sites  of 
your  Reservoirs,  you  will  not  want  for  room  to  accumulate  supplies  of 
water,  in  order  to  guard  against  the  contingency  of  accidents  to  your 
machinery. 

In  the  extended  plan  of  the  work  I  have  estimated  for  the  construction 
of  two  other  Reservoirs,  having  an  united  surface  of  about  15  acres  more. 
Another  may  still  be  built  on  the  same  grounds,  if  required  at  some  future 
day,  of  about  6  acres,  so  that  you  can  have  a  Reservoir  surface,  when  de- 
sirable, of  about  38  acres,  at  the  height  of  1T2  feet  above  high  tide;  or  T9 


12 


feet  above  Brooklyn  Heights,  without  the  necessity  of  constructing  a  wall, 
except  for  about  900  feet  along  the  line  of  the  Cypress  Hill  Plank  Road. 

ENGINE  HOUSE. 

The  Engine  House  is  to  be  built  of  brick,  and  arranged  so  as  to  provide 
for  extensions  as  the  additional  supplies  are  needed.  The  foundations  and 
purnp-well  will  be  built  of  concrete  and  masonry.  The  pumping  machinery 
will  consist  at  present  of  one  Cornish  Engine,  with  a  cylinder  of  11  feet 
stroke,  and  100  inches  diameter,  in  connection  with  a  double-acting  engine, 
with  cylinders  of  25  inches  and  60  inches  diameter,  and  6  feet  stroke,  provi- 
ded for  any  case  of  emergency  which  may  arise.  Each  engine  will  be  ca- 
pable of  raising  10,000,000  of  gallons  of  water  in  24  hours. 

CONDUITS. 

In  deep  excavation,  the  Conduit  will  be  built  of  brick,  laid  in  cement,  the 
foundations  being  of  concrete.  The  brick-work  on  the  side  walls  and  base 
will  be  twelve  inches  thick,  and  on  the  upper  arch  sixteen  inches  thick,  the 
internal  width  being  12  feet  at  the  flow  lines,  and  the  internal  height  9 
feet.  The  upper  and  lower  arches  are  segments  of  circles,  the  versed  sine 
of  the  upper  being  4  feet,  and  that  of  the  lower  1  foot.  (See  accompany- 
ing plan.) 

In  embankment,  the  upper  arch  of  the  conduit  is  supported  by  spandrel 
backing  in  masonry,  the  side  walls  being  of  masonry,  with  a  half-brick 
lining  in  cement.  The  back-filling  over  the  conduit  will  be  4  feet  high, 
with  slopes  of  li  to  1.  The  grade  cf  the  conduit  will  be  4i  inches  per 
mile,  and  when  running  5  feet  deep  on  tnc  centre  line,  it  will  discharge 
30,000,000  gallons  per  day. 

As  this  Conduit  is  continued  Eastward  from  the  Receiving  Reservoir  at 
Baiseley's  pond,  its  dimensions  will  be  lessened  to  a  capacity  for  passing 
25,000,000  gallons  per  day,  to  Simonson's  pond;  and  thence  eastward 
again,  to  21,000,000;  and  so  the  reduction  will  be  continued,  until  its  ca- 
pacity is  lessened  to  the  discharge  of  Willis'  pond. 

We  shall  then  still  have  the  capacity  of  the  arch  of  the  conduit  for  the 
waters  of  Jones'  and  Massapequa  ponds,  in  addition  to  the  30,000,000 
gallons  at  some  future  day. 


Estimate  for  a  present  daily  supply  of  9,000,000  of  gallons,  with  its 
engines,  engine  house,  distributing  reservoir,  and  system  of  distribution; 
together  with  |he  receiving  reservoir  at  Baiseley's  pond,  and  the  conduit 
from  Simonson's  pond  to  the  engine  house,  with  a  capacity  for  passing  the 
maximum  quantity  of  water: — 


Cost  of  Reservoir  ground,  site  of  engine-house,  ponds,  and  right 

of  way   $120,000  00 

For  eighty  miles  of  distributing  pipe,  hydrants,  stop-cocks,  &c  . .  904,748  00 

Mains,  stop-cocks,  &c   609,571  00 

Distributing  reservoir,  keeper's  house,  gate  house,  &c   107,074  00 

Two  engines,  engine  house,  fixtures,  force  tube,  &c   228,080  00 

Conduit  from  engine  house  to  receiving  reservoir,  at  Baiseley's 

pond;  pump,  wells,  &c   884,241  00 

Receiving  reservoir  at  Baiseley's  pond;  gates,  gate  house,  keeper's 

house,  &c   112,422  00 

Conduit  from  Baiseley's  pond,  to  Simonson's  pond  :  Dam  at  Simon- 
son's,  &c   394,274  55 


$3,360,410  55 

Add  6  per  cent,  for  Engineering,  and  other  contingencies   201,624  63 


$3,562,035  18 


1 1 


Estimate  for  a  supply  of  30,000,000  gallons  per  day,  embracing  the  sys- 
tem of  distribution,  pumping,  &c,  and  the  line  of  conduit  and  open  canal 
to  Willis'  Pond:— 

i 

Cost  of  Reservoir  ground,  site  of  engine  house,  ponds  and  right 


of  way   $200,000  00 

For  one  hundred  and  forty  miles  of  distributing  pipe,  hydrants, 

stop  cocks,  &c   1.504,748  00 

Mains,  stop  cocks,  &c   1,298,934  00 

Distributing  reservoir,  keeper's  house,  gate  house,  &c   260,882  00 

Four  engines,  engine  house,  fixtures,  force  tube,  &e   228,080  00 

Conduit  from  engine  housa  to  receiving  reservoir,  at  Baiseley's 

pond  j  pump,  wells,  &c   884,241  00 

Receiving  reservoir  at  Baiseley's  pond,  gates,  gate  house,  keeper's 

house,  &c   121,075  00 

Conduit  from  Baiseley's  pond  to  Simonson's  pond  :  Dam  at  Simon- 
son's,  &c   394,274  00 

Open  canal,  dams,  gates,  &c,  to  Willis'  pond,    240,500  00 


$5,132,734  00 

Add  6  per  cent,  for  Engineering  and  other  contingencies,   307,964  00 


$5,440,698  00 


Estimate  for  a  supply  of  30,000,000  gallons  per  day,  embracing  the  sys- 
tem of  distribution,  pumping,  &c,  and  the  line  of  closed  conduit,  from  the 
engine  house  to  Willis'  pond: — 

Cost  of  Reservoir  ground,  site  of  engine  house,  ponds  and  right  \ 


of  way   $200,000  00 

For  one  hundred  and  forty  miles  of  distributing  pipe,  hydrants, 

stop  cocks,  &c   1,504,748  00 

Mains,  stop  cocks,  &c   1298.934  00 

Distributing  reservoir,  keeper's  house,  gate  house,  &c   2G0.882  00 

Four  engines,  engine  house,  fixtures,  force  tube,&c   228,080  00 

Conduit  from  engine  house,  to  receiving  reservoir,  at  Baiseley's 

pond,  pump,  wells,  &c   884,241  00 

Receiving  reservoir  at  Baiseley's  pond,  gates,  gate  house,  keeper's 

house,  &c   121,075  00 

Conduit  from  Baiseley's  pond  to  Simonson's  pond  :  Dam  at  Simon- 
son's,  &c   394,274  00 

Closed  conduit,  dams,  gates,  &c,  from  the  engine  house  to  Willis' 

pond   460,000  00 


$5,352,234  00 

Add  G  per  cent,  for  Engineering,  and  other  contingencies   321,134  00 


$5,673,368  00 


16 


SUMMARY. 

Co  -t  of  a  present  supply  of  9.000,000  gallons  ■   $3,502,035  18 

Cost  of  a  future  supply  of  30,000,000  gallons,  with  an  open 

canal  to  Willis'  pond   5,440,698  00 

Cost  of  a  future  supply  of  30,000,000  gallons,  "with  a  closed 

conduit  to  Willis'  pond   5,073,368  00 


In  the  foregoing  Synopsis  of  my  Report,  with  the  accompanying  Plans 
and  Estimates,  three  several  features  of  the  main  plan  are  embraced,  viz : 
the  maximum  amount  required  at  present,  the  amount  required  when  the 
population  to  be  supplied  readies  the  number  of  six  hundred  thousand,  by 
a  system  of  close  conduit  terminating  in  an  open  canal,  and  the  cost,  of  a 
plan  including  a  close  conduit  on  the  whole  line.  It  has  not  been  deemed 
necessary  to  enter  into  argument  on  the  comparative  merits  of  different 
mechanical  means  Tor  raising  the  water,  or  to  extend  the  report  with  des. 
criptions  of  minute  details  of  seperate  divisions  of  the  work,  not  of  general 
interest. 

The  principal  object  is  to  show,  beyond  question,  the  large  supplies 
which  are  available,  the  quality  of  the  water,  the  general  plan,  and  the 

cost. 

In  conclusion,  permit  me  to  thank  Mr.  John  B.  Jervis  and  Mr.  Charles  B. 
Stuart,  for  their  advice  and  counsel  ;  Mr.  Daniel  Marsh  and  Mr.  Samuel 
McElroy,  for  their  aid  and  services  in  making  the  surveys,  guagings  and 
estimates  ;  and  Mr.  Erastus  W.  Smith,  for  his  advice  in  regard  to  the 
arrangement  of  the  machinery  for  elevating  the  water  to  the  distributing 
reservoirs. 

WARD  B.  BURNETT, 

Chief  Engineer  Long  Island  W.  W.  Co. 


